St Lucia January holidays

Festivals and events in St Lucia in January

Great upcoming fact for pub quiz enthusiasts - St Lucia has the highest number of Nobel Laureates per capita in the entire world. To show their pride in the literary achievements of Sir Derek Walcott and Sir William Lewis, St Lucia hosts the Nobel Laureate Festival from the 6th of January until February. The event is a blend of workshops, panels, seminars, music, food and drink which take place all over the island. The festival is a great opportunity to experience the eclectic blend of Caribbean culture, as well as enjoy a few rum punches from the ubiquitous market stalls found all over St Lucia.

St Lucians are an outgoing and vivacious folk, so if you’re planning a new year’s getaway then St Lucia is the perfect destination. New Year’s Eve celebrations are no low-key affair here, and most of the island’s resorts will host their own private beach parties complete with fireworks and complimentary champagne. Rodney Bay hosts spontaneous street parties, but be warned – you will likely be nursing a hangover on the beach the next day.

Top places to visit in St Lucia in January

January is a great time to visit St Lucia as it falls in the middle of high season, so all the tourist locations are open and in full swing. If you’re planning on experiencing the Noble Laureate Festival, it's worth basing yourself in the north of the island as that is where most of the events take place. Rodney Bay is a 15-minute taxi ride from Castries and is home to a flurry of hotels with some of the most beautiful beaches and views in the Caribbean. Why not spend a January day relaxing by the beach with the occasional dip in 26° waters, before grabbing some food which combines St Lucia’s creole heritage with at Tapas on the Bay? End your evening dancing at the Gros Islet Jump Up bar where you can enjoy cocktails that are both extraordinarily good and affordable.

Thanks to the light January trade winds, the water is crystal clear and there isn’t a better time to experience the incredible biodiversity on offer in St Lucia’s turquoise waters. Head up to Jalousie's pristine Forbidden Beach and snorkel in a listed World Heritage site right next to the majestic Piton mountains. For more experienced divers, St Lucia is one of the most underrated diving locations in the Caribbean and boasts over 22 dive locations, from wreckages of sunken ships enveloped by coral to underwater trenches, the waters of St Lucia are the perfect destination for any diving enthusiast.

What’s the weather like in St Lucia in January?

In January St Lucia has an average temperature of 27°C. While it can get as hot as 30°C, the January trade winds offer a cooling balm to the more humid, hot days. There can be brief showers but the likeliest weather forecast is eight hours of glorious sunshine every day.

What to pack for a holiday in St Lucia in January

• Pack light clothing, swimwear and shoes suited to a summer holiday.
• Comfy, rubbed-soled shoes for excursions and light hikes or hiking boots for longer treks.
• Sun cream is an integral part of a Caribbean packing list.
• Ensure that your sun cream is listed as reef-friendly – many commercially sold sun creams contain chemicals like oxybenzone which have been linked to coral bleaching.
• Sunglasses and a hat.
• A jumper or cardigan for the cooler evenings.
• A smart outfit for the evening.
• Mosquito repellent.
• Travel plug adapter.
• Prescription medicines.
• Tote bag for shopping and to use as a beach bag.
• Snorkelling gear if you wish to snorkel from the beach.
• Camouflage is illegal in St Lucia, so don’t pack your khaki cargo shorts.